Time’s Running Out

The Washington State Legislature is now in its second special session of 2013. We feel like the time has come for them to pass a budget in Olympia, and we figured we weren't the only ones.

Here are some excerpts from opinion pieces published in Washington newspapers in the past few days: State lawmakers have 231 million good reasons to agree on a new two-year state budget. Revenue forecasts predict an additional $231 mil- lion in revenue during this fiscal year and over the next two years. That money, plus $90 million in savings from fewer services being needed, could be enough to do a deal and go homehellip;

hellip;Our lawmakers have spent enough time in Olym- pia. It's time to craft and pass a budget and go home.

- Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter

The Legislature entered its second 30-day special session Wednesday. We wonder why, when they are now a regular occurrence, they are called "special."

- The Chronicle - Centralia

How is this year's session of the state Legislature like a National Basketball Association season? It seems to go on forever.

We say that because the august body is in the midst of its third session - that's one regular and two special, for those keeping score - in an attempt to produce an operating budget, something lawmakers were unable to do during the 105-day session and the 30-day special session that followed.

The Legislature went into double overtime on June 12.

Having failed to produce a budget during the course of 135 session days, legislators are under more pres- sure than ever to get a budget deal done.

Oh, did we mention that, if there's no budget by July 1, state government could shut down?...

hellip;Here's hoping the third time is the charm - and that the NBA Finals are over by the time you read this.

- The Peninsula Gateway - Gig Harbor

Legislators were elected to lead Washington State, all of it, not just their party's political agenda.

I've been here nine years, had many tough debates, some very emotional, made compromises, and with my Democratic and Republican colleagues always left at the end of session proud of the work we did together. Never has the specter of a government shutdown been a consideration. It does not have to be this way.

We are Washington State, not Washington, D.C. - let's find common ground, compromise and get our job done.

- Rep. Larry Springer, (D) Redmond - in The Red- mond Reporter

It seems our lawmakers can't put their politics aside for the good of the order. They had an entire 105-day legislative session to approve an operating budget for our state and failed. Then a 30-day special session was called, but our elected officials still couldn't curb their partisan issues and pass a budget.

They are now in a second special session and time is running out. The time has come to get the job done. No more wiggle room exists.

If a two-year budget is not passed by June 30, the consequences will be dramatic. Our state government could shut down July 1.

- Tri-City Herald

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.